BEFORE TAKING THESE COURSES, YOU MUST TAKE ANALYTICAL
READING & WRITING.
The Mosaic courses are a two-course sequence. Each course is
three credits.
In these small discussion-based classes, students will be guided
though a thematic approach to primary texts from great world
cultural and intellectual traditions. Themes such as "journeys," or
"faith" or "money" are the basis for reading and understanding a
set of important texts from different time periods and different
cultures. For example, as students explore the theme of "power,"
they will start with Homer's Iliad and the Declaration of
Independence. Expanding on this theme, they will read 17th century
political philosopher John Locke and 20th century American civil
rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., while weaving in important
texts from China and the Middle East. As students interrogate the
theme of 'power,' they will be making connections across different
time periods, cultures, and types of writing.
Mosaic courses build upon the communication and critical
thinking skills students developed in the Analytic Reading &
Writing course, particularly the ability to make connections and
arguments across different texts. That is why it is so important to
take the ARW course before taking Mosaic.Upon completion of the
Mosaic sequence, students will be able to
- Read challenging primary texts, and recognize the contemporary
and personal connections within them;
- Make connections across fields of study, historical periods and
cultural boundaries;
- Create interpretations and construct arguments; and
- Express themselves persuasively in speaking and
writing.
(GY, 0851)
Students investigate the nature of the individual in human
society as illuminated by philosophical, psychological, religious,
and political texts in dialog with examples from art and
literature. Themes: journeys, self & others, community,
faith.
Mosaic: Humanities Seminar II [A/B]
(GZ, 0852)
Students continue to work with texts across cultures, histories
and disciplines, extending their investigation of human society to
the cosmos, and moving from in-depth textual analysis to broader
considerations of scientific discourse, philosophy and ethics.
Themes: science, power, money, environment/city.
